It does seem like summer.

I stayed on the mooring for 3 nights to let the mini heatwave pass by, not much happened, I did a spot of heron watching and tried very hard to get a picture of a fish being caught but they are too fast for me or my camera.

Yesterday I moved on  to Bradford on Avon itself, so I set off about 10am for the short hop and single lock, the lock entails a bit of a walk from landing to lock walking behind ‘The Lock Inn’ and crossing the main road that crosses the bridge to get access to it, but I was pleased to see a volounteer when I finally got there, after passing through the lock watched by a few early gongoozlers I moved just ahead to the service point and did the usual fill and empty, there was a lovely mooring just 2 boat lengths ahead which I had earmarked, and then the inevitable happened, a passing holiday boat asked me “are we allowed to moor there?” I was tempted to say "no" but said "yes", moving on I found a mooring but was aground and  3feet off the bank at the stern, I took it anyway as choice is an unavailable luxury in this popular spot. Two trips to Sainsbury and the decision made to stay the night.

Last night’s mooring:

I had a bit of a restless night due to the boat listing, it doesn’t take much to make you feel as if you are going to roll out of bed, obviously you’re not, but I suppose the brain thinks there is a risk and wakes you every time you turn over!

I wanted a ‘proper’ mooring today, so set off about 8:45 to try and find one. The number of moored boats makes for slow going, I quite like pootling along on tickover but I don’t like long days in hot sun, here’s a few of the more unusual looking ones I passed by today.

I passed through Hilperton where it looked like a lot of ABC hire boats were being prepared to go out again today, I bet those moorings under the building causes a bit of panic to returning hirers.

A little further along is this lovely entrance bridge which leads to Hilperton Marina.

It was lovely cruising along slowly in the warm sunshine, and arriving at swing  bridge 162 I was glad to see I was back in the area of landings either side of the bridge on the offside, so much easier for the single hander. By now it was getting hot, I decided to take the next available mooring and there were a couple of spaces at Semington, only 24hrs but that will do for tonight, by now it's very warm!

Tonights mooring:

Totals this post: 5.5 miles : 1 lock : 1 swing bridge